Respooling device for photographic cameras



Dec. 26, 1961 K. H. LANGE RESPOOLING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS Filed Nov, 4' 1957 rnz LANGE .nited Smtes Patent ()fiice 3,014,673 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 3,014,673 RESPOOLING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC CAMERAS Karl Heinz Lange, Bunde-Ennigloh, Westphalia, Germany, assignor to Balda-Kamerawerk, Rudolf Gruter K.G., Bunde, Westphaiia, Germany, a German comany P Filed Nov. 4, 1957, Ser. No. 694,310

Claims priority, application Germany Nov.- 5, 1956 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-71.6)

This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to the respooling of films in photographic cameras.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a respooling device for photographic cameras, especially miniature cameras wherein the faults and difficulties which arise in the transference and respooling of films, especially miniature films, are avoided.

It is a known fact, that with the various types of miniature film casettes or holders at present on the market, the configuration of the camera chamber housing the film holder is not suitable for the demands placed On it. Y'f. 'f

Various methods have been sought to take this cireumaa'nceamusement one" of which consists in that theedge damagingriskof the holder occurring during the passage of the filmon transference is counteracted in that the holder is drawn away at its mouth in a direc tion opposite to the passage of the film.

A further method consists in that the holder is arrested in the camera by resilient holding means. All of these embodiments are, however, still not satisfactory.

A further disadvantage which can lead even to rupture of the film consists in that generally the spool key of the respooling device remains in engagement during transference ofthe film.

The friction thus present of the film spool key acts disadvantageously especially in cameras with rapid transference and coupled shutter equipment as well as in fully automatic cameras.

The present invention solves the problem of avoidance of the edge damaging of the film holder as well as doing away with great frictional resistance in that the film spool key is formed in two parts, for example, it consists of a key shaft and a flanged key socket slidable axially on said key shaft and hand actuated means for holding the key socket in a disengaged position by gripping the fiange of said socket for the period of film transference.

Preferably the hand-actuated means consists of a double armed lever one arm of which holds the key socket in an inoperative position by gripping the flange of said key socket for the period of film transference and the other arm of which simultaneously disengages the film drive to a transfer roll of the camera when the key socket of the respooling device is moved into operative position.

Further details of the invention are more clearly explained with reference to one embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Onthe drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of a respooling device according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a complete cross-section along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a partial section in greater detail along the line Iii-Iii on FIGURE 2.

The respooling device illustrated in the drawings has a key shaft 1 which is provided with a flange 2 which serves as bearing for the key shaft 1 in the housing 3. The flange 2 assembled with the key shaft 1 is pierced in extension of the key groove 4, provided in the shaft 1, and permits the entry of the arm 5a of a key socket 5. The key socket 5 is likewise provided with a flange 6, and is so limited in its axial movement that in one end position at co-terminates with the end 8 of the key shaft facing the holder chamber 7, and in the other end position projects the requisite amount in the direction of the spool for engagement with the stud 9a of the spool 9. Advantageously for reasons of finish the key shaft 1 consists not of metal but of a resistant synthetic material. If the camera is in the condition for taking photographs or ready for transference of film the key socket 5 does not project beyond the key shaft 1. In order to bring the respooling device into the prepared position, which respooling device in conjunction with the key shaft 1 may have an actuating head, knob or crank handle 10, there is used according to a further characteristic of the invention a latch 11 which, according to the embodiment shown, can tilt about the point 12 and which on actuation engages the flange 6, and accordingly brings the key socket 5 into engagement with the stud 90 provided for that purpose on the spool 9. 7 Instead of a single arm lever in the form of the latch 11 the latter can also be expanded to a double armed "s'ee-s awlever 13, whereby'it" is possible at the moment of setting in motion the respooling device to bring the transfer rollerf14 out of engagement with the film transfer drive 15.

The actuation of the see-saw lever 13 can also be effected through a pressure key and also as shown in the drawings by means of a twist button 16, with a turn key 16:: secured to this or stamped out of a piece of sheet metal.

According to the invention furthermore a lug-shaped bolt or extension 17 of the key 16a can be used for the purpose of freeing the foldable handle 14 held in the folded condition under the tension of the spring 17a, at the moment of changing over to the respooling process wherein, for example, the extension 17 leaves the slot 18 of the crank pin 19, whereupon the spring 17a knocks the handle 10 outwardly.

In order to remove the possible disadvantage to be observed in connection with this device, namely that the user, because of the stand still of the key shaft 1 or its handle 10 in the transfer position, can no longer observe with certainty whether the film is actually transferred, the key shaft 1 is, according to a further characteristic provided with borings 20 and 21, in which a pin 23 with dome shaped recess 22 can move and which is pressed by spring 24 in the direction of the spool 9.

Because the pin 23 with the dome or slit shaped recess 22 is pressed by the spring 24 onto the stud 9a of the spool 9, the pin 23, if the coupling is complete, runs with the spool and can through the marked end 25, which protrudes from the key shaft 1 on the handle side, indicate the rotation of the spool 9 during transfer of the film.

If as shown in FIGURE 2 the dome shaped recess 22 has a sufliciently large side angle then the pin 23 can under axial displacement glide off over the stud 9a of the spool 9 and in this case indicate a rotation of the spool 9 through periodic movement in the axial direction. In the latter case the rotational movement of the pin 23 is prevented through appropriate abutments or profile of the pin.

I claim:

1. A respooling device for cameras having a housing, a film transfer roll, driving means for said film trans fer roll and a spool for respooling the film; comprising a respooling handle, a double-arm lever pivotally located on said housing by which double-arm lever the spool may be engaged and disengaged from said handle, said film transfer roll being disengaged and engaged from said driving means simultaneously by the action of said double-arm lever, actuating means arranged on said housing for operating said double-arm lever, power transfer mechanism connecting said handle with said spool, said mechanism comprising a key shaft continuously power-connected with said handle, said key shaft having a flange for rotatably supporting said shaft in said housing, and a key socket having a flange for engaging one arm of said double-arm lever, said key socket having corresponding gripping arms, said shaft being embraced by said key socket, the latter being axially movable for engaging and disengaging said spool, said flange on said key shaft having cut-outs through which said arms of said key socket project for engaging and disengaging said spool from said handle upon axial movement of said key socket.

2. A respooling device according to claim 1, said handle being disposed to assume an operative and an inoperative position, and spring means acting upon said handle to urge it out of said inoperative position, and a releasable bolt holding said handle in the inoperative position against the action of said spring.

3. A respooling device according to claim 2, said key shaft consisting of rigid synthetic material, and means for holding said key socket in the disengaged position of said spool by gripping said flange of said key socket for the period of film transference.

4. A respooling device according to claim 1, further comprising a driving stud on said spool, said key shaft having a hollow interior, a visible outwardly projecting pin only axially movable in said hollow interior of .said

key shaft, said pin having a head and a groove-shaped recess in said head, the side walls of said recess forming an obtuse angle, and spring means acting to urge said head of said pin axially for engagement of said side walls of the recess with said driving stud, the pin upon rotation of said spool under axial displacement gliding off over said stud so that rotation of said spool at forward film transport is externally indicated by the periodically variable axial position of said pin.

5. A respooling device according to claim 1, further comprising a driving stud on said spool, said key shaft having a 'hollow interior, a visible outwardly projecting pin movable in said hollow interior, said pin having a recess, and spring means acting to urge said pin axial- .ly into engagement with said driving stud so that rotation of said spool at forward film transport is externally indicated by rotation of said pin.

6. A respooling device according to claim 2, said handle being hingedly connected with said key shaft whereby it can be swung into said inoperative position, said spring means acting on said handle to urge it out of said inoperative position at the same instant said key socket is urged into a position for engagement with said spool.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,144,993 Bernardini et al. July 6, 1915 2,140,445 Mihalyi Dec. 13, 1938 2,245,214 Mihalyi June 10, 1941 

